One night stand - 2

One night stand - 2

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Genre - Romance, Drama

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A brief of the part-1 of this story - Natasha, a writer from Delhi meets Raj - a banker in Mumbai. They experience strong and surreal chemistry and end up spending the night together. Next day, Natasha bids adieu and returns to Delhi...

"Hi, Sheetal - what's up? 

"Hey, babes - when did you return from Mumbai?" Sheetal's lively voice came through from the other end.

"Two days back."

"And you're calling me NOW?!!"

"Got busy with stuff."

"Stuff or Ayush?"

Natasha laughed. "Nah. I've barely spoken to him since my return."

"Trouble in paradise?" Sheetal asked sounding a bit concerned.

"No, nothing. Everything is good. "Let's meet up today evening at 7 at the cafe."

"Done. See you then, muuahh." Sheetal said immediately chirping up.

Sheetal was her childhood friend, her first friend after she had moved to Delhi from Calcutta. As opposed to her she was vibrant and gregarious, the center of attraction, throwing kisses around and a long queue of guys followed her wherever she went.

Both hugged on seeing each other. "You look super," Natasha complimented her. "But, seriously, don't you feel cold wearing a mini skirt at this time of the day especially with winters around?

She pouted. "Babes, I am too hot." 

Natasha laughed. They ordered coffee and settled in.

Sheetal looked at her friend closely; something was amiss. Her eyes were distant.

"What's the matter?" Sheetal asked, a tad worried about her friend.

"Nothing is," Natasha replied edgily.

"Come on, Nats. I've known you for ages; I can tell when something is on your mind. Besides, you rarely plan a meeting, it's me who is always dragging you out."

Natasha exhaled slowly. "I met someone."

"What?!! What do you mean - you met someone?"

 "I met a guy in Bombay." 

"And?" 

"And...I spent a night with him."

Sheetal was dumbstruck for a moment. "Don't fucking kid me, Nats. You slept with a guy in your very first meeting.?"

"I spent the night, as in...shared the same bed with him, but we weren't physical. We didn't have sex."

"Tell me everything that happened. Every bit of it." Sheetal insisted impatiently.

Natasha took a deep breath and recounted her experience.

"Phew!!! So, what's the issue now?"

"I can't go ahead with the marriage."

"What?!! Are you out of your mind?!!" Did you speak to Ayush about it?"

"No, How could I ?!!" I've not mentioned it to anyone." 

"I think you are making too much out of nothing. You met a stranger, you had a great time. That's about it. It's the novelty of the experience."

She weighed what Sheetal said and pondered to herself, "Was it the novelty factor? Was it the wine, the sea, the ambiance?!! She had been out on a few dates with different men in the past, but she had never felt like this."

"It isn't the novelty, Sheetal. I felt something real, something very deep. He stimulated me."

"Natasha, don't give me that crap. I have seen you with Ayush; you are happy with him. Is there anything, that you don't like about him?"

"It's not that, Sheetal. Ayush is a great guy. I don't know how to explain it. I know it sounds ludicrous that I want to call off the engagement for a one-night stand."

"Right, it is ludicrous. You said it. And, don't even think about breaking off the engagement. I will not let you ruin a perfectly good life for a sudden, unfathomable whim of yours. You barely know that guy."

Natasha sighed and shifted in her chair.

"Do you love that guy?"

 "No."

 "Do you love Ayush?" 

"I thought so."

"Nats, just think about it. I am your friend, I am not saying all this because Ayush is my brother. You will not only be hurting him but also both the families. This is not right. Besides, in a few days, you will forget Raj; it will all be a thing of past."

Natasha swallowed hard and admitted reluctantly. "You do have a point." 

Sheetal sighed and got up. "I have to go now. You think over it and let me know." 

"Okay, I will call you later. Bye."

Natasha decided to take a stroll to organize her thoughts. Now, that everything was out in the open, she knew what she was up against. She rattled her brains, what was it that she felt with him? She had felt something that she never thought she was capable of or existed within her. She had felt intoxicated like she was on a high and he was the drug. And, she craved more of it.

Two days later, she called up, Sheetal.

"Sheetal, I've thought about it." 

"And?" 

"I will go ahead with the marriage."

She exhaled in relief, "that's my girl. You see, you will not regret this."

"But, I do have to make a phone call to him."

 "Nats, I don't think that's a good idea. Just let it be."

 "He said, he will wait."

"How long will he wait? He will give it up in a few days and get on with his life." 

"No Sheetal, I owe this much to him." 

"Okay, babes. Make it short and swift."

Natasha was a bit peeved. "Can you please not tell me how to do it?!!"

"Chill, I am sorry. I will call you later in the evening."

She sighed heavily and looked up to the heavens. She sipped water to calm her nerves and then dialed his number. She could hear the ring go through. 

"Hello!" His thick voice came from the other end.

She felt her heart thump like a railway engine.

"Hi! it's me, Natasha." She managed.

"Hey,  How're you?" His voice mellowed down.

She exhaled slowly. "Raj, I am getting married in a few months."

There was a stony silence. For a moment, Natasha felt she was simply holding the phone to her ear with no one at the other end.

"Say something, please." Natasha's desperate voice broke the silence. 

She heard him breathe. "Well, the damn Murphy is at it again. This guy has something against me."

Natasha was confused for a moment and then it struck her and she let out a wry suppressed laugh. "You find this funny?!!"

"Humor is misery's best friend."

"I will be needing this friend a lot then, Raj."

"Hmm....well, good luck Natasha. Take care." 

"Thank you, Raj." The line went dead. He had hung up. She went into her room, opened her laptop and started pounding the keys.

Later, that evening, Sheetal dropped at her place.

"Hey, I thought you were going to call," Natasha asked sombrely.

"I changed my mind. So, how did it go? Sheetal said casually taking the chair opposite her friend.

 "I told him I am getting married."

"And?!!"

 "He wished me good luck and that was it."

"Cool. That's settled then. Let's go out for a drive." Sheetal said attempting to be cheerful.

Natasha looked at her friend and smiled. "Good idea. I do need some fresh air."

Sheetal got into the driver's seat, revved up the engine, and put on some music. Natasha slid in next to her.

"I kissed a girl and I liked it, the taste of her cherry chapstick," Sheetal crooned in sync with the song, moving her shoulders to the beat.

Natasha smiled and looked at her friend.

"Hey Nats, I wonder what would it be like to kiss a girl? Can I kiss you and find out?" She fluttered her eyes mischievously.

"Shut up, girl. You are shameless."

"Hahaha!!!" Sheetal laughed out load and pressed her foot on the accelerator pedal.

They drove through the streets of Delhi late into the night before crashing in at Natasha's place.

Back in Mumbai, the restlessness inside Raj had grown to unbearable proportions after the phone call with Natasha. He had thought that he would be able to manage the thoughts about Natasha on his own, but lately, her thoughts had gotten the better of him. He needed to let it out, to talk to someone. Raj tapped his colleague Amit on the shoulder. Amit was not only his colleague but also a very good friend. "Hey dude, let's go out for tea. I need to talk to you about something."

"Hold on a second, let me send this email." 

 "Okay, I will wait outside," Raj said and went out. 

A couple of minutes later, Amit walked out. "Raj, Come - let's go." They walked to the tea stall on the street opposite their office.

"What's the matter, dude?"

Raj exhaled slowly as he wondered where to begin. He narrated the details in short.

"Man, you're just making a big deal out of nothing. Be practical. Girls come and go. That girl is moving on with her life, you too should. I daresay, given how things have turned out, it would have been better if you had had sex with her."

Raj glared at him. "Anything else?"

"Now, don't get angry. Look, nothing can be done. It's her decision. Just get over it and move on."

Raj nodded. "Yeah, that's the only choice."

Later, that evening, he took a cab and asked the driver to take him around near the stretch of the sea. A while later, he left the cab and stood facing the sea. He didn't know what to think or feel. Whether he even had the right to feel cheated or be hurt or upset or angry? After all, it was a one night stand, there was no obligation, no commitment - only, the unspoken bond, witnessed by the sea. The calmness of the sea quietened the uneasiness inside him and he felt relatively better.

In Delhi, Sheetal had invited Natasha over for dinner at her place.

"What's wrong with your friend, sis? She's been aloof and distant since she has returned from Mumbai. I think she's avoiding me. In the last couple of months, we have met only twice." Ayush groaned to the two of them.

"I don't know. Maybe it's all the stress of shopping and pre marriage jitters." Sheetal clarified and changed the subject. "There is only one more month to go - are the invitations out yet, dude? And what about your Sherwani - have you checked with the tailor? Don't leave it until the last minute."

"Thankfully dad's office staff is helping him out the with the marriage preparations," Natasha added her bit.

"You always side with your friend, Sheetal. I am your brother." 

"That you are, but she is my baby." Sheetal jested.

"Yeah...she's been wanting to do a Katy Perry on me." Natasha teased. The three laughed in unison. "Guys, I will leave now. It's late and I have a meeting tomorrow morning at work."

"I will drop you down, Natasha." Ayush offered.

Natasha bid farewell to Sheetal.

"Good night, babes." Sheetal waved and watched them leave.

Ayush escorted Natasha to her car. "I hope all is well. We have not been getting in much time lately."

"All is well, thank you."

"Good night." He leaned in and gave a gentle peck on her lips.

She stood still. "Good night Ayush." She got in the car and drove away. She picked up her phone and searched for the contacts and looked at Raj's number. She had an overpowering urge to call him. She kept the phone aside, gripped the steering wheel tight, shut her eyes and breathed deep.

The next week she shopped like crazy, buying everything she could possibly need and then some more of it. It was when she was trying to arrange her wardrobe when the card found its way into her hands. "Thank you for the most amazing night. Kiss."

She sat on the bed and shook her head. She called Sheetal and asked her to come immediately.

"What's the matter, Natasha?" 

 "I can't do this, Sheetal."

Sheetal knew what her friend meant, but still persisted, "What can't you do?"

"I can't marry Ayush. I have tried in these last two months to move on and forget what happened in Mumbai, but I just can't. Something has changed inside me. If I marry him, I will be doing so without any desire and joy."

Sheetal sighed and said, "Don't do it, if it is this bad."

Surprised, Natasha looked at her friend. "But, you only.... and he is your brother."

"Yeah, I thought it was the novelty factor and that you will get over it soon, but clearly, it isn't working. I am glad you at least considered my suggestion and gave it a shot. It is what it is."

Natasha hugged Sheetal in relief.

Sheetal smilingly said, "Don't worry, I will tell Ayush and take care of it."

"No, Sheetal. That's my responsibility. I will do it."

"Okay. What are you going to do with all this shopping?"

She laughed. "I have no idea."

"Do you plan to marry him?"

"I don't know. It's too early for that."

"Nats, you know, I'd easily trade the long queue of men in my life for that one man who could make me feel the way you do for him." Sheetal sighed.

Natasha looked at her friend in disbelief.

"Take care babes, Bye."

Natasha let out a deep breath, she needed to sort out a few things. But, first things first. She called up Ayush and fixed up a meeting.

She had no idea, how things would go with Ayush. But, it had to be done. The next day she met him at the restaurant.

"What went wrong all of a sudden, Nats? Damnit, I need some explanation." Ayush inquired agitatedly.

She recounted the details in brief.

"Oh! so, that explains your recent behavior." Ayush mocked with a hint of contempt.

"I am sorry, Ayush." 

"Did you sleep with him?" 

 "No."

 "So, there was no touching?"

"We kissed." 

"That's such a lie. I am sure you fucking slept with him." 

"I did not. And frankly, that doesn't matter."

"You're a selfish bitch. This is so unfair." He swore and stomped out.

She exhaled slowly and thought to herself. "This didn't go as planned, but it had to be done."

A couple of days later she met Sheetal.

"Hey...how's Ayush?"

 "Hurt and Angry, but he will be fine."

 "Sheetal, I am planning to go to Mumbai."

 "Did you speak to him?"

 "No. I will call him this Saturday."

 "Natasha, I hope you know what you're doing." 

"Honestly Sheetal, I don't. Precisely why, I want to figure this out."

Later in the week, on Saturday, she called him in the night.

"Hi, Raj."

There was a long pause. "Hi, Natasha. How are you?"

"I am good, thank you. How're you?

"Good too, thank you."

There was a brief silence before her voice came through. "I called off the engagement, Raj."

He forgot to breathe for a moment. She heard him exhale slowly.

"Are you all right, Natasha?" 

"Yes, I am. I don't want you to feel pressured cause of this. It's just that, I didn't want to settle for less."

He drawled. "Hmmm...It must have been hard for you to take the call."

"Yeah, the last couple of months were disturbing. I wasn't sure what to do."

 "I can understand."

 “You didn't think about me?”

"There has not been a single day in these 2 months when I haven't thought about you."

 "How come you didn't call me? Here, I was struggling really hard to keep myself from calling you."

 "I didn't have your number. I deleted it after your call. I was worried, I'd not be able to resist and would end up calling you."

She breathed out slowly. "Hmm."

"How did your family take your decision?" 

"It wasn't easy to convince dad. But, he is quite wonderful, eventually, he gave into his only daughter's wishes. And no, I didn't make a mention of you to him."

"That's understandable. What about your mom?"

She went quiet for a moment. "She passed away when I was very young."

"I am sorry."

 "I just wish that I didn't have to hurt Ayush - my fiancée, but I guess one can't have the cake and eat it too. Something has got to give." 

"I wish it was a bit easier for you. But, at least, you weren't indecisive. Indecisiveness can make a Buridan's ass out of one."

Natasha laughed casually. "What is a Buridan's ass?"

"It is a donkey who is thirsty and hungry and has to choose between a pail of water and a stack of hay. Since both choices looked equally appealing, it couldn't decide and eventually died. Buridan was a French philosopher who talked about this theory, hence the name.

"Quite interesting and true too. Many people in life go through situations wherein they have to make a choice, but they can't decide and eventually are forever stuck in-between, thereby killing themselves every day."

"I am glad you chose what you chose," Raj said cheerfully.

She smiled. "So, how's work coming along?"

"It is all right. Comes and goes. So, what are you writing these days?" 

Her voice smiled. "Any guesses, Mr. Banker?"

"None. I've no clue."

"I am writing about this one night that I spent with an interesting stranger."  

He smiled through the phone. "How exciting! It must have been some night."

She said teasingly. "It was."

"How does it end?" Raj asked playfully.

"I am still working on it," Natasha replied in the same vein.

He laughed.

 "What?!!" 

"Nothing. You are quite charming."

She gently stroked her arm and smiled. "What are you listening to these days? I mean - which song?"

"Under your spell - it's from the movie "Drive". In fact, I am listening to all the songs from this album. Not sure, if you've heard."

 "No, I haven't. Will check it out though."

 "What's your room like, Natasha?"

"Umm...well, the walls are sky blue, and right opposite my bed is the bookshelf - it almost covers the entire length of the wall. Right below, is the TV set and the music system. On my right side is the window, I've lined  the window sill with potted plants and on my left side is my working desk, where I write."

"Hmm...What sounds can you hear in the night?"

"It is normally quiet, except for the sound of the speeding bike or a vehicle. When a bike races by, the sound goes like zzzoooooooooooooomm."

"Natasha." His voice was tender. 

"Yes, Raj?!" Her voice mirrored his.

"Tell me something. If you would want me to touch you right now, where would you want me to touch you?"

She went speechless for a moment as a sudden warmth spread through her. "My back - lower back." 

Raj breathed in heavily. "It is strange. You are here talking to me and yet, I am missing you."

"You spoke my thoughts, Raj. I was thinking the same."

A silence ensued as they listened to each other breathe. The breathing was light and gentle. The familiar quietness held them together and a thousand miles between them faded away into oblivion.

 

****************** The End ******************

 

 

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